Valve structure



A. W. STURMAN VALVE STRUCTURE March 17, 1942..

Filed July 3, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 1 7,1942

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in valves and the primary objectis to provide a valve for use in connection with lavatory, sink, bathtub or similar appliances for controlling the water flow and mixing andcontrolling water flow to the receptacle or to an 'auxiliary appliancesuch as a shampooespray or shower. An'- other objectis to provide avalve of' this kind of exceptionally'durable and emcient structure anddesigned to give long and trouble free-service. A further object is toprovide a valve of novel and functlonal design in a compact andornamental form well adapted to blend nicely into the. modern trend ofornamental design. still a further object is to provide a valve of thiskind which may by simple modification be adapted to use on older typesof equipment having exposed faucets and the like and to the newertypesof equipment having concealed pipingoutlets and the like and whichmay be arranged to provide, in addition to control handles for thevalves, a convenient control means for the waste valve where such isused.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed inthe course of the following specification. reference being-had to theaccompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical, diametrical\ crosssection through the valve showing related connections for hot and coldwater inlets.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the valve.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section along the line 3-3 in-Fig. -1. v

Fig. 4 is a cross section alongthe line 8-6 in Fig. 1.

Figf is a diametrical 5-5 in Fig..2. i v

Fig. 6 is a cross section along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an inverted plan view of the inlet valve Operating memberalone. showing the cam section along the line valve Operating member 26'and a cap 21.

is the base which carries the extension li and v showing the same aslavatory.

Fig. 12 is a rear or inner end View of the valve of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectio taken along the line |3-|3 in'Fig. 11. i

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to thedrawings my valve strucarranged in a wallover a ture is seen. in theembodiment shown in Figs. 17 through 10, to comprise a main`bodystructure I 19-20 for hot and cold water piping (not shown) and the hotand coldwaterare separately led through the fltting and upwardly throughducts -2l-22 in the extension 15 into the valve proper, there to bedistributed as will appear. v

The valve body comprises as its main elements a base member 23, a headmember 24, an outlet valve Operating member or ring 25, an inlet It theducts 2i-22 lead into openings %r cavities 28-29 in the base openingupwardly through the fiat upper surface thereof. The base carries acentrally locatedand upwardly extended 'Post member 80, and the headmember- 24 has a cen- 30' tral opening 3! to clear the post and slipsover the base with a marginal lip 32 entering'a. cir-^ 35 ar drawntogether tightly by a tapped collar surfaces thereon, and indicating indotted lines i Fig. 10 is a perspective view' of a tool for removing andadjusting parts otthe valve. e

Fig. 11 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5, but showing a modifiedvalve structure designed for use in .connection with concealed ttingsand 35 which is threaded down over the post 30 into a recess 36 in thehead.` Packing 31 is compressed by the collar 35 to seal around the post30.

The underside of the head member 24 is recessed as designated at 38'thus providing above the base a cavity or recessinto which the waterway enter through the openings 28-29. For controllng this water entranceI provide hot and cold water valves or inlet valves representedgenerally at 39-40 and which are located in said openings 28-29. It isto be understood, of course, that the hot or cold water may be connectedto either branch of the fitting !8 and the use of the terms "hot" and"cold" in connection with the valves and other parts is therefore purelyi'jor convenience in description. v

The valves 39-40 comprise valve seat members or plugs 4| which arescrewed into the tapped upper ends of the opening 28-29 downwardlyagainst marglnal inturned llps 42 therein A gasket 34 seats between thehead and these plugs are provided with central openings 43 faced of atlower ends to provide valve seats 44. The valves themselves take theform of trunco-conical heads 45 which are urged to the seats 44 byexpansion coil springs 48 braced against the lower sides of the valvesand disposed within the openings 28-29 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. valvestems or plungers 41-48 a extend upwardly from the respective vaives39-40 and are orned as extensions of the heads ,45 and are of lesserdiameter than the openings 43 to provide clearance therethrough when thevalves are opened. These stems 41-48 extend slidably upward throughbores 49 in the head member 24 and through packing collars 50 which arethreaded in enlarged and tapped upper ends of the bores to compresspacking around the stems. The-stems project some distance above theupper end of the head members at their upper ends, as clearly shown.

The base 23 has on one side an outlet or spout 52 which comnunicateswith an opening or cavity 53 in the base and has at a substantiallydiametrically opposed point a spray or service outlet pipe or coupling54 which likewise communicates with an opening 55 in the base. Theseopenings, like the inlet openings 28-29, open upwardly through the upperside of the base but are spaced between the said inlet openings as bestseen in Fig. 9. The openings 53-55 are provided with outlet valvesdesignated generally at 58-51 (Fig. 5) which comprise plugs or seatmembers 58 screwed into enlarged upper ends of the openings and providedthemselves with central openings 59 formed with upwardly faced valveseats 50. The valve heads SI, of conical shape, enter the openings 59loosely and are urged against the seats 80 by expansion coil springs 82which are braced between the valve heads and the head member 24 and arecoiled around the valve' stems 83-84. said stems 83-84, extendingupwardly from the heads 8| of the respective valves 58-51, are passedslidably through bores 65 in the head member 24 and upwardly throughpacking collars 68 which thread into the bores and compress packing 81around the stems. These stems also project upwardly above the upper endof the head member 24 although to not as great distance as the aforesaidvalve stems 41-48. 1

It will be evident that the inlet valves 39 and 40 may be opened bydownward movement of their stems 41-48 while opposite upward movement ofthe stems 83-84 will open the outlet valves 58-51. As the valves areopened water entering through the ducts 2I-22 will first flow upwardlyfrom the openings 28-29 into the recess 38 above the base 23 and thenwill flow back down through the valves 58-51 to the openings 53-55 andout through the outlets 52-54. The water pressure is always exerted onthe valves in a direction having a tendency to close them and thisaction, together with the metal-to-metal seating of the valves, greatlyincreases the effectiveness and useful life of the structure.

The outlet valve Operating member 25 takes the form of a ring or annuluswhich seats upon and encircles a diametrically reduced upper end portion88 oi' the head member 24. The upper end of the member 25 further isreduced and inset to overlie the upper end of the head member. thusproviding an annular extension 85 just clearing the valve stems asclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The inlet valve Operating member 28 islikewise of ring-like shane and rotatably encircles the upper endextension 88 of the member 28 but the upper end of this latter member isclosed as at 10 except for a central aperture 1I clearing the post 30. Acollar or annular member 12 depends from this closed end 10 around thepost and rotatably bears upon the upper end of the head member 24. It isapparent that both of the members 25 and 28 are thu independentlyrotatable on the valve body and for thus moving the parts I provide themwith radially extended Operating handles 13 and 14 respectively.

The deme-like cap 21`sunnounts the valve and i in the presentarrangement this cap is rigidl, secured to the upper end of a rod 15which depends through a bore 18 extended entirely through the center ofthe valve structure and through the center of the branch tting .l8. Thiscap carries also a radially extended handle 11 and by manipulating' thehandle the rod 15 may be turned within the valve. A lower end of the rodis connected by conventional means (not shown) to the usual "pop-up"waste valve (also not shown) of the sink, lavatory, or tub, with whichmy valve structure is used. Nuts 18 screwed on a lower end of the rod 15upwardly engage the fitting !8 to prevent upward displacement of the cap21 and the cap thus serves to retain the valve Operating members inoperative positions. The upper surface of member 28, around the opening1| therein, is recessed annularly at 18 to receive a thrust Washer orhearing 80 against which the cap 21 bears when the nuts 18 are drawn up.t

The valve Operating member 25 has, on the inner peripheral face of itsend ring 89, a cam surface or rib 8l as best seen in Fig. 8, which *rib8| but have the knob-like upper ends 83 adapted to ride the uppersurface or edge of the cam rib. The arrangement is such that, when thehandle 13 is turned toward'the front of the valve, the cam rib 81 willstand medialiy between the valve stems 83-84 and in engagement with ineither. Then as the handle 13 is turned to one side and the member 25rotated the cam rib will move under the end 83 of one stern and willurge the same upward to draw the head 81 clear of the valve seat andopen the assoclated outlet valve 58 or 51. opposite movement will openthe other outlet valve and'it will be apparent therefore that bymanipulating this handl 13 the valve may be 'opened to either the spoutoutlet 52 or service outlet 54, the latter serving as a connection for ashampoo spray or shower (-not shown).

A cam ring 84 is rigidly mounted against the annular underside of the.-closed end 10 of the valve Operating member 28 and this ring has twoarcuate cam surfaces 85-88 (Fig. '7) arranged end to end and each opwhich slopes downwardly from its ends to a m'edial nose portion 81. Inthe assembied relationof the valve parts the cam ring 84 overlies theupper end of the inlet valve stems 41-48 and in theposition assumed bytmember 28 when the handle 14 projects straight forwardly from the valvetoward the operatch the adjacent ends of the cam surfaces 85-88 restover the stem 48 while the stern 41 rests between the widely spreadouter or opposite ends of said surfaces as indicated in dotted lines inFig. 7. Movement of the handle in either direction (and of courseoscillation of the inlet valve Operating member 26) will then move onecam surface 85 or 86 over the valve stern 48 to urge the same downwardand open the cold water valve 49 and permit the cold water to flow fromeither of the outlets 52 or 54 according to the position of the handle13. Continuation of the movement will cause th other cam surface tosimilarly operate the valve stem 41 to open the hot water valve 39,meanwhile gradually shut-` ting off the cold water as the cam nose 81moves past stem 48. Cold water is normally adnitted u first and thengradually shut off as hot water enters to secure the desired mix'ngoperation.

It will be noted that my valve structure presents all control handles inconvenient'juxtaposition and that by the tapering rounded shape giventhe body M it blends well with modern functional design. All waterpressure is held below the head 24 and adequate sealing around thecenter post 30 and various valve stemsis easily provided for. The head 2and base 23 may be held in proper relation alignn'ent by pilot pins suchas indicated at 88 in Fig. 6.

The various packing collars 35, 50, and 56 as well as the valve plugs 43and 58 all have radially extended notches 89 which may be engaged withthe lugs 90 on either end'of a tubular tool 95 shown in Fig. 10. Thistool has facedsurfaces 92 for awrench and may be used for removing orseating any of these parts of the valve.

My valve structure also lends itself well to use in connection withmodern concealed plumbing installation; as shown in Figs, 11 to 13. Thevalve body It in this structure includes as heretofore described thebase member 23, head mem- I ber 24, outlet valve Operating member 25,inlet valve operating member 28, and cap 2? and all valves and Operatingmechanism therefor are identical to those heretofore described. Likenumerals are accordingly used as references.

The base 23, however, is adapted for mounting in the wall A over the tubor lavatory B and for this purpose has a marginal flange 93. The hot andcold water inlets are in this case extended through the base member inline with the corresponding inlet valves as shown at 94-95 while the twooutlets are similarly formed as' represented at 95-91. Elbows 98 arethen screwed into these openings 94-95 and 96-91 for connection 'to thehot and cold water piping and to a 'the piping leading to the wateroutlets or other flttings for tub or lavatory. As seen at .99 in Fig.13, the elbows 98 leading into communication with the inlet valves, oneof which is shown, are extended into the base to act as guides or pilotsfor the valve springs 46.

The foregoing arrangement places both inlets and outlets in direct linewith the respective valves to provide the best possible water flow anddisposes all piping in concealed position. The

- valve as a whole being of course in this case horizontally disposed,the handles "3-" may be turned upwardly or downwardly as may be mostconvenient in each installation. u

The cap 21 in this installation, as wellas in any other desired, isprovided with a tapped socket IOO by which it is screwed upon theextended end of the center post 30. A lock nut u replaces the thrustWasher 80 to lock the cap against unscrewing as the valve member isturned.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in, thestructure as disclosed, provided such modications come within the spiritand scope of the appended claims. Having 'now `vention, what I claim tobe new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A valve structure comprising, a body portion having a chamber andhaving a plurality of inlet openings and a plurality of outlet openingscommunicating with the chamber, a valve movably mounted in each of theopenings for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet openings intothe chamber and. outwardly through the outlet openings, the valves intheinlet openings being arranged to open in a direction opposite to thevalves in the outlet openings, stems extended from the valves, the stemsof the outlet valves having knob-shaped upper ends, cam means engagingthe ends of the inlet valve stems for urging the same in one directionto open the inlet valves, and separate cam means engag'ing theknob-shaped ends of the outlet valve stems for urging the same in anopposite direction to open the outlet valves.

2. A valve structure comprising, a base member having a plurality ofinlet valves and a plurality of outlet valves mounted therein andincluding stems extended therefrom for movement in substan-tiallyparallel directions for opening the valves, ahead member mounted on thebase and slidably supporting the valve stems, and a pair of separatecoaxially arranged, mutually supported annular members rotatably mountedon the head member, one of said annular members engaging the stems ofthe inlet valves for opening and closing the same and the other annularmember engaging the stems of the outlet valves for selectively actuatingthe same.

3. A valve structure comprising, a base member having inlet valves andoutlet valves mounted therein and including stems extended therefrom for.movement in substantially parallel and opposite directions for openingthe inlet and outlet valves, ahead member mounted inlet valve stems andopening the inlet, valves.

4 A valve structure comprising a base mem ber having inlet valves andoutlet valves mounted therein, stems extended from the valves foropening and closing the valves, a head member on the base slidablysupporting the valve stems, an annular Operating member rotatablymounted on the head member, 'an arcuate cam on said' annular member forengaging the sides of the stems of the outlet valves and operative tourge said stems endwise in response to 'rotation of the annular memberand thereby operate the valves, another Operating member rotatablymounted upon the first mentioned Operating member and having an endportion, and cam means on said end portion for engaging the ends of theinlet valve stems and moving the same endwise in response to rotation ofsaid other operating member and thereby opening and closing the inletvalves.

5. A valve structure comprising, a body portion having a chamber andhaving a pair of separate inlet openings and at least one outlet openingcommunicating with the chamber, a valve movably mounted in each of theopenings for controlling the flow of fluid into and out of the chamber,the valves in the inlet openings being arranged to open by movement inone disite direction, stems on the valves, spring means normally ciosingthe vaives, a. cam device operatively engaging the stems of the inletvalves to move the same in one direction and open the i'nlet vaives, andseparately operable cam means engaging the stem of the outlet valve toopen the same.

- 6. A valve structure comprising, a base member having iniet valves andoutlet valves mounted therein, stems extended from the' valves formovement in substantialy parallel directions for opening the valves, ahead member mounted on the base and siidabiy-supporting the valve stems,a pair of coaxiaily arrangedi annularmembers supported on the headmember and one having means for operatively engaging and actuating theinlet valve stems and the other having means for operatively engagingand actuating the outlet valve stems to thereby open the Q inlet andoutlet valves, a cap member engaging one of the annuiar members toretain these members in assembiy on the head member, and a rod extendedfrom the cap member through the valve body, the' said cap member beingrotatabiy mounted for turning the rod.

7. A valve structure comprising, a base member having iniet valves andoutlet valves mounted therein,` stems extending from the valves .for

movement in substantiaily parallel directions for opening the vaives, ahead member mounted on the base and siidably supporting the valve stems,a pair of coaxially arranged, mutually support d annular membersrotatably mounted on the head center post extending through the headmember I and annular valve Operating members, and a cap engaging' thepost to urge the head and annuiar members toward the base.

8. A valve structure comprising a base member having a plurality ofvalve openings in one side, separate water inlet and outlet means in theopposite side of the base communicating with the valve openings, a headmember on the base and having a central opening, a center post extendingfrom the base through said opening, vaives operativeiy arranged in thevalve openings and having Operating stems extending through the headmember, separate Operating members movably mounted on the head member,one operating member having means engaging said stems for Operating apart of the valves, and the other Operating member having means engagingthe stems for Operating the other valves, and means on the center postfor holding the said Operating members in place on the said head member.v

ALTON W. STURMAN.

